Snubber



w. L. scHLEG'EL, JR

June 1 0, 1952 SNUBBER 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Jan. 20, 1948 W. L. SCHLEGEL, JR

SNUBBER June 10, 1952 2 Sl-IEETS-Sl-IEET 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1948 FIG. 4

I l l l l l l l| INVENTOR GEL, JR.

WALTER L. SCH LE BY Patented `une 10, 1952 OFFICE SNUBBER Walter L. Schlegel, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 20, 1948, Serial No. 3,203

This invention relates `to shock absorbers and` more particularly to a novelV friction device commonly known as a snubber and utilized in the spring group supporting a railway car truck bolster from an associated frame member.

A general object of the invention is to design a snubber having relatively few parts and great capacity to withstand the impacts of railway service.

Another object of the invention is to devise a snubber wherein the resilient unit which resists compression of the snubber also functions to urge the friction shoes thereof into frictional engagement with an associated friction element disposed between the shoes.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a resilient unit surrounding the shoes and affording a direct force path between the shoes and each of a pair of spring seats, one movable with the shoes and the other movable with an opposed friction follower on compression of the device.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specication and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the novel snubber, the right half of this figure being shown in elevation and the left half in central vertical section;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the left half in section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to the left half of Figure 1 but showing the snubber in compressed position;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified embodiment, the right half thereof being shown in central vertical section; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Describing the invention in detail and referring first to the embodiment thereof illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the novel snubber comprises a top follower, generally designated 2, and comprising an annular base 4 adapted to seat against an associated supported member (not shown) such as a railway car truck bolster. The base 4 is provided with an axially extending wedge or stem 6 cored away as at 8 for convenient foundry practice. The upper end of the cored opening 8 is flared as at 9 to receive positioning means (not shown) on the supported member. Surrounding the stem 6 at the upper extremity ,thereof is an annular web or rib I0 defining a 16 Claims. (Cl. 267-9) chamber I2 with the stem 6 and having a spring seat I4 engageable with a pair of resilientY blocks I6 formed of a fiowable resilient material such as rubber. The blocks I6 bear against an annular backing ring I8 which defines therewithv a resilient unit to resist compression of the snubber, as hereinafter described.

The stem 6 is in rwedge engagement as at 20 along complementary V-shaped surfaces with a pair of friction shoes 22, each'of which is formed with a base 24 affording a seat for the snubber upon an -associated opposed member (not shown) such as a truck side frame. The base is provided with a semi-annular recess 25 to receive positioning means (not shown) onl the supporting -member. Each base 24 is provided with a spring seat 26 engaging one of the blocks I6 and the ring I8 whereby on the compression stroke of the snubber, as best seen in Figure 3,the blocks I6 are compressed between the ring I8, the spring seats 26, the spring seat I4 and the radially outer faces of the friction shoes 22, the inner faces of which are in wedge engagement with the stem 6, as above described. As clearly seen in Figure 3, the axially inner extremities of the shoes 22 on the compression stroke of the snubber extend into the before-mentioned chamber I2.

Thus it will be seen that the novel snubber comprises an annular unit I6, yI8 surrounding the shoes 22 and operable to resist the compression stroke of the device and also to urge the shoes 22 into tight frictional engagement with the wedge stem 6 by compression of the blocks I6 between the seats I4 and 26 and. the outer surfaces of the shoes 22.

Referring now to the modification of Figures 4 and 5, the embodiment illustrated therein comprises a top follower 52 having a base 54 formed with a depending wedge stem 56 and an annular depending rib or web 58 therearound. The web 58 comprises a spring seat 60 which bears against the top of an annular resilient block 62 formed of a continuous ring of any-flowable resilient material such as rubber. Preferably .the block is provided with an annular backing ring 64 having an annular positioning rib 66 recessed in the block 62. However, it will be understood that, if desired, the ring 64 may be eliminated.v

The stem 56 is in complementary wedge engagement as at 68 along V-shaped surfaces with a pair of friction shoes 10, each of which is formed with a base 'I2 affording a seat for the lower end of the block 62 which is also seated asat 'I4 against the radially outer surfaces of the shoes 10. As in the previously described embodiment,

aeod'asi the stem 56 and the rib 58 dene a chamber 16-"said chamber on compression of the device, said for the reception of the axially inner ends of the shoes 'lll on the compression stroke of the device.

As in the previously described embodiment, the modification of Figures 4 and 5 comprises an annular unit 62, 64 disposed around the friction shoes 'Ill for compression betweenvthe spring seat 6U andv spring seats 18 on thel base LI2 of the shoes; and the block E2 thus affords a direct force path between each spring seat 60 and 18 and4 the radially outer surface 14 of each shoe to maintain the latter in tight frictional engagement at 68 with the stem 56. x v v It will be understood that Ido not wish to be' limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. A friction device comprising spaced spring seat means at respective ends thereof and movable toward and away from each other as the device is compressed, an inner friction element fixed to one of said seatmeans endwise of the device, outer friction elements fixed to the other spring seat means and frictionally engaging the inner element, and a continuous ring of resilient owable material engageable with and compressible by and between said spring seat means and said outer elements as the device is compressed.

2. A friction device comprising a plurality of separable friction elements having substantially radial spring seat means and substantially axial surfaces movable therewith axially of the device on compression of the device, a friction element between said elements in frictional engagement therewith and` having spring seat means facing and movable toward the first-mentioned spring seat means on compression of the device, said separable elements having means affording a seat for one end of the device against an associated part, and said last mentioned element having means affording a seat for the other end of the device against another associated relatively movable part. and fiowable resilient means compressible between both of said spring seat means and against the surfaces of the separable elements, for urging the separable elements against the firstmentioned friction element.

3. A- friction device comprising an annular unit including at least one block of ilowable resilient material, a follower comprising a friction stem projecting into said unit and comprising a rigid spring seat rigidly connected to said follower and engaging said material, and a plurality of friction shoes in frictional engagement with said stem and in abutment with said material, each of said shoes comprising a spring seat facing the first-mentioned seat and abutting said material, said follower and said shoes having means affording seats for opposite ends of the device, respectively, against associated relatively movable parts.

4. A friction device comprising a follower including a base having a stern and a spring seat member therearound defining a chamber therewith, friction shoes engaging said stem and each having an abutment surface extending axially of the device and anotherv abutment surface extending radially thereof, and resilient means compressible by and between all of said surfaces and said member. said shoes being movable into base affording a seat for one end of the device and said shoes alfording a seat for the other end of the device.

5. A friction device comprising a follower with a spring seat and a friction stem radially inwardly thereof, a plurality of separable friction shoes with radially inner surfaces engaging the stem and radially outer surfaces angularly related to said spring seat, and a unit surrounding said stem and shoes comprising owable resilient material compressed by and between said spring seat and said radially outer surfaces, each of said shoes having a spring seat facing the follower s'e'at' approximately parallel thereto and engaging said material, said shoe and follower affording seats for respective ends of the device against associated relatively movable members.

6. A snubber comprising a follower and a plurality of shoes engaging a portion of the follower extending between said shoes, said shoes and follower having spring seats facing each other and resilient means compressible by and between said seats and portions of said shoes extending lengthwise of the snubber, said follower and shoes having oppositely facing seats, respectively, affording seats for the snubber against associated relatively movable parts, the relative movement of which is to be damped by said snubber.

7. A friction device comprising a plurality of separable friction shoes each having angularly related abutment surfaces, a stem between said shoes in diagonal face wedge engagementtherewith to urge the same apart from each other upon compression of said device, an abutment surface movable with said stem, and resilient means affording a direct force path between the last-mentioned surface and each of the firstmentioned surfaces, said shoes and said stem having oppositely facing seats, respectively, affording bearing for the device against associated relatively movable parts.

8. A friction device comprising a hollow rigid member, flowable resilient material therein, a friction stem projecting lengthwise of the device into said member, shoes projecting into said member in frictional engagement with said stem, a spring seat connected to said stem and iixed against movement relative thereto lengthwise of the device, said seat and said shoes bearing along longitudinal and transverse surfaces thereof against said material to compress the same against said member on the compression of the device axially thereof, said shoes having means affording a seat for one end of the device against an associated part and said stem having means affording a seat for the opposite end of the device against an associated relatively movable part.

9. A friction device comprising a plurality of separable friction shoes each having a base, a hollow backing member engaged with said bases, a follower including a stem Iprojecting between said shoes in frictional engagement therewith and including rigid spring seat means projecting between said member and said shoes, and fiowable resilient means compressible by and between said member, said shoes, said bases, and said spring seat means, said base and follower affording seats for respective ends of the device against associated relatively movable members.

l0. A friction device comprising a hollow unit including iiowable resilient material, and frictionally engaged inner and outer elements within said unit, the outer elements bearing against said material, the inner of said elements having means affording a seat for one end of the device against an associated part, and the outer of said elements having means affording a seat for the opposite end of the device against an associated relatively movable part, and substantially rigid spring seat means associated with the inner and outer elements and engageable with the ends of said material for compressing the same on the compression stroke of the snubber, said spring seat means being xed with respectl to the elements against movement endwise of the device.

11. A friction device comprising opposed spring seats, an inner friction element movable with one seat and xed with respect thereto, outer friction elements movable With the other seat and fixed with respect thereto, flowable resilient means compressible between said seats and the outer elements, and rigid backing means surrounding and abutting the outer side of said resilient means, said seats being approximately parallel to each other, said inner friction element having means affording a seat for one end of the device against an associated part, and said outer elements having means affording a seat for the other end of the device against another associated relatively movable part.

12. A friction device comprising a follower including a stem and spring seat in fixed relationship with respect to said stem, a plurality of separable friction shoes having their inner surfaces engaging areas of said stem, and a unit surrounding said areas and comprising ilowable resilient material engaging the outer surface of each shoe and said spring seat along angularly related surfaces, each shoe having a fixed spring seat approximately parallel to the follower seat and engaging said material.

13. A friction device comprising a plurality of separable friction shoes each having a base angularly related thereto and affording a spring seat, a friction stem between said shoes in frctional engagement therewith along inwardly converging surfaces thereof, a spring seat connected to said stem against relative movement with respect thereto endwise of the device, and a ring around said stem at its inner extremity, said ring comprising resilient means compressible by and between said seats and the outer surfaces of said shoes, said shoes and.I stem affording seats for respective ends of the device.

14. A friction device comprising a hollow unit including flowable resilient material, friction shoes projecting into said unit in engagement with said material, a friction stem between said shoes in frictional engagement therewith, and rigid spring seat means rigidly connected to the stem and shoes respectively, and engaging said material, said shoes and stem having spaced means, respectively, affording seats for opposite ends of the device against associated relatively movable members.-

l5. A friction device including opposed spring seats, outer friction elements movable with one seat and fixed against relative movement with respect thereto, an inner friction element engaged with the outer elements and movable axially of the device with the other seat and fixed against relative movement with respect thereto, and flowable resilient means compressible by and between said seats and the outer elements, said seats extending substantially radially of the device, said outer friction elements and said inner friction element having means, respectively, affording seats for opposite ends of the device against associated relatively movable parts.

16. A friction device comprising a tapered stem, friction shoes in engagement with the outer surface thereof, and a unit surrounding said surface at its inner extremity, said unit comprising a mass of ilowable resilient material compressible between the outer surface of each shoe and a spring seat on said stem, said shoe having a spring seat approximately parallel to the spring seat on said stem and engaged with said material, said shoes and stem having means, respectively, affording seats for opposite ends of the device against associated relatively movable parts.

WALTER L. SCI-ILEGEL, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,713,914 OConnor May 21, 1929 2,108,124 Hobson Feb. 15, 1938 2,216,231 Dentler Oct. 1, 1940 2,230,029 Eaton Jan. 28, 1941 2,289,790 Light July 14, 1942 2,306,393 Light Dec. 29, 1942 2,444,337 Cottrell June 29, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9127 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1904 

